Spring Collections Focusing On Comfy Basics With Some Inspired Prints, Says Fashion Expert

‘Frankie’ bamboo Jersey.Photo by Chopper Couture.

Warmer days are less than a month away, and designers have already started launching their new collections. Among them, eco-fashion designer Chopper Couture has just released two spring/summer collections - the California motorcycled culture inspired ‘Feel Good’ line and the yoga activewear ‘Rock Om’ line.

Both of the new season’s collections are keeping much of their traditional feel, though focusing more on giving wearers increased versatility options by featuring more pieces whose graphic designs are solely on the backs and sleeves, leaving the fronts bare for more conservative looks.

“The collections bring together inspirations from California lifestyle, tattoo culture, Eastern philosophy, and French symbolism,” said Viggo Zingenberg, partner with Irene Zingenberg, designer/company owner.

Click to read more ...

Fall Shoe Shopping: Finding Cool Shoes That Are Eco-Conscious Too

Vegan Slouch Boot made from a soft pleather that covers the entire boot down to the two inch heel. Photo courtesy of Vegan Chic.

It’s the Fall shopping season, and time for new shoes. If your trying to find fashionable shoes that are also eco-conscious, then it can be a real struggle going out to most retail stores. They have very small to no selections.

Another option to consider is shopping online. Some exploration turned up three noteworthy sustainable websites with decent-sized shoe selections made of combinations of vegan, organic, and recycled materials. They’re: 

• Vegan Chic- a provider of shoes, boots, bags, and accessories

• Alternative Outfitters vegan boutique- a provider of shoes, boots, bags, accessories, apparel, and beauty products.

• Pristine Planet- an aggregate shopping site that brings together retailers providing shoes, boots, bags, accessories, apparel, beauty, and a plethora of other lifestyle products.

Vegan Chic, as its name implies, is a good place to explore as a site whose entire inventory, though not entirely organic, doesn’t contain any animal products. The materials used are made of plant and synthetic fibers, such as:

Click to read more ...

What’s Hot For Spring - Basic Colors With a Little Print Mixed In, Says Fashion Expert

Ashley Tisdale wearing Eco-Ganik’s popular stripe racerback shirt.

LOS ANGELES- Spring is here and women are shopping. The trend this year is having a lot of basic color pieces in your wardrobe, with a few prints to mix and match, says Hoda Mallone, design director of the eco-conscious design house Eco-Ganik.

One of the hottest items the design house featured this year was a black and white stripe racerback tank top, made from recycled polyester. “It’s a really nice fabric. It has a nice feel and it breathes unlike traditional polyester,” said Ms. Mallone, who added, “It was probably one of our best sellers. A lot of celebrates wore it.”

The design house’s current celebrity following includes such high profile names as Nikki Hilton, Ashley Tisdale, Jessica Alba, Ann Hathaway, and Selena Gomez.

Eco-Ganik gets a lot of the influence for its fashion lines from the array of California cultures ranging from Hollywood sophistication to the Santa Monica and Venice Beach scenes. “It’s very cool seeing all these different kinds of girls. They inspire us a lot,” said Ms. Mallone, who describes the design house’s style as “contemporary for sure, with some vintage inspiration; a little hippie-chic mixed with street-girl.”

Click to read more ...